UK data, BRC Sales Like-for-like July: +0.5% y/y (expected 1.5%)

British Retail Consortium data - the "like-for-like" sales basis strips out changes in store size

For July up 0.5% y/y

• expected +1.5%, prior +1.1%

The 'total sales' is up 1.6% y/y

Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive:

• "Last month's sweltering temperatures kept shoppers focused on eating, drinking and keeping cool. Food sales had their best July in five years, while fans and cooling equipment flew off the shelves
• However, total sales growth slowed as the heat laid bare the underlying weakness in consumer spending"

More:

• Non-food retail sales fell after rising in the previous two months